After watching his team lose for the first time this season, Sundown coach Jerry Palmore admitted the problems Seymour can cause opposing defenses.

"It's a tough offense to cover when everything is working pretty well for them," he said minutes after Seymour's 24-20 victory over the Roughnecks.

The Panthers are making their third trip to the state quarterfinals in five years, having toppled two unbeatens during their postseason march.

One reason for that is sophomore Zach Barton has excelled in his first year as the starting quarterback. He has thrown for 2,113 yards, 25 touchdowns and only five interceptions entering this week's showdown against district rival Stamford.

But Barton will be the first to admit he is privileged to have the supporting cast that he does. Senior Tyler Baker is Seymour's biggest weapon as a deep threat, but fellow wideouts Cody Adams, Tanner Gillispie and Cody Taylor all excel in their roles.

"We've got four really good receivers, but what's funny is we have six more that could start for us," said Seymour coach Rocky Smart, who is 5-2 in the playoffs his three years at the school. "We're very blessed there."

Baker has blossomed into a playmaker this season with 55 catches for 946 yards and 12 touchdowns. What's even more impressive is that Baker hadn't played football since the seventh grade before moving from Celina before his junior year.

Seven times this season, Baker has tallied at least 80 receiving yards. He recorded 158 against Windthorst, but Baker's biggest reception in 2011 was probably the 77-yard touchdown he caught on a screen pass Friday in the fourth quarter with the Panthers trailing.

Gillispie is Seymour's most versatile skill player. He and Taylor line up inside in four-receiver sets, but Gillispie also filled in admirably at quarterback when Barton was injured.

"He's just a big play waiting to happen," Barton said. "If you can get him out in space, then that's all you wrote."

Barton isn't the only sophomore who has contributed to an offense averaging 35 points per outing. Cody Adams is coming off his best game of the season, catching seven passes for 119 yards and a touchdown.

Three times in Friday's first half against Sundown, Adams came through with a reception on third-and-long that moved the chains.

"He's got a really great set of hands. He might not be the fastest on the team, but he can catch anything you throw at him," Barton said of his classmate. "He's real good about wrapping around the backers and finding holes in the secondary."

Running back Dalton Pullin also is among Seymour's leading receivers with 29 catches.

He splits out wide when the Panthers line up with an empty backfield. Or Pullin can peel out on a wheel route like the senior did on last week's 16-yard touchdown catch in the first quarter.

"We try to run everything to perfection, whether it's the post or even the little slants," Adams said. "I just try to run my route as hard as I can, find a hole and catch the ball. We just do our best."